National Sunshine Week begins today. This is the annual observance of open government, an event that hits close to home for us this year. With the Great Bend Tribune's stonewalled efforts to find out information about a fatal shooting and the unconstitutional efforts to slap a gag order on proceeding participants to prevent them from talking to the media, we have become more keenly aware of the need for openness.

This time of year means two things to Barton County Solid Waste Director Phil Hathcock – the lion-like winds that usher in spring and the increased traffic from stir-crazy residents doing their spring cleaning.

The Central Kansas Library System was granted permission Monday night to install a new lighted sign in the Great Bend Public Library parking lot along Broadway, but it took a compromise and a tie-breaking vote from Mayor Mike Allison to pass the measure.

Janel Rose, Barton County health educator and Be Well Barton County coalition member, was absolutely right when she addressed count commissioners Monday morning. She presented the coalition's Barton County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, a document meant as a flexible road map to improve access to walking and biking opportunities.

Even more Barton County veterans who deserve to be included on the Golden Belt Veterans Memorial but don't have the financial resources to pay for the engraving will have the opportunity to be honored, thanks to an anonymous donation made through the Golden Belt Community Foundation.

The Barton County Sheriff's Office must now reopen its investigation into an alleged sexual assault that occurred on a Great Bend High School bus involving members of the GBHS swim team Feb. 3. The action was necessary following the Kansas Bureau of Investigations decision not to accept the case.

Michael Bahr is a fifth-generation Barton County farmer and past Barton County Banker Conservation Award winner for soil conservation, as well as President of Tall Crop and Great Plains Precision Ag, Inc.

The Barton County Soil Conservation District (part of the Natural Conservation Service) gives its Conservation Awards annually. The awards are often referred to as the Banker awards since the prizes and annual district banquet are sponsored by the bankers in the county, with one being picked as a key banker each year.